Factors Associated with Asymptomatic Proteinuria in Adult Nigerians. A Community-Based Study

Introduction: Early detection of proteinuria is early detection is a cost-effective method of assessing individuals with and without risk factors for chronic renal disease. Proteinuria is common in adults and may present a clinical challenge in the absence of obvious renal disease or risk factors especially in the tropics. Few studies in Nigeria have assessed the prevalence of proteinuria in adults using the dipstick method. The aim of this study was to document the prevalence of proteinuria among residents of a community in Enugu, south east Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in an isolated urban slum settlement in Enugu, south east Nigeria. Dipstick testing of freshly voided early morning mid-stream urine samples was done to detect proteinuria. For database management and statistical analyses, SPSS version 23 was used. Results: A total of 262 individuals were recruited for the study, 165 (63%) females and 97 (37%) males. The participants’ age ranged from 18 to 90 years, averaging 43.7 ± 15.5. Trace amounts of protein were detected in urine samples of 225 (85.9%) individuals. Significant proteinuria was detected in 3.8% of the participants and was significantly higher 40 - 49-year-olds (6%). p = 0.02 and 0.02 respectively. Significant correlates of proteinuria were lower diastolic blood pressure and current tobacco use. Lower body mass index weakly correlated with proteinuria. Conclusion: The prevalence of significant early morning proteinuria in a community-based study in Enugu was 3.8%. Significant correlates of proteinuria included low diastolic blood pressure and tobacco use. Community based awareness programs targeted at prevention of chronic renal diseases should be incorporated in public health programs.

Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity in an Urban Area of South East Nigeria

Background: Overweight and obesity present a growing health problem among Africans from all socioeconomic status. In Sub Saharan African, obesity is not only a consequence of overnutrition but possibly from excessive consumption of unbalanced diet dominated by carbohydrates and saturated fats. Characteristics of the distribution of obesity/overweight in Nigeria include its high prevalence along with socioeconomic class and in mid-life. Methods: Using the WHO STEP-wise approach to surveillance of noncommunicable diseases, we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of the adult population living in two urban slums in Enugu. The study was carried out in 2013. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version. Results: A total of 605 (414 women (68.4%) and 191 (31.6%) men were recruited and analysed. The mean body mass index was 25.8 kg/m2 higher in females (26.7 kg/m2) than males (24 kg/m2) p is 29.4% (178/605) and 19.5% (118/605) respectively. There also a modest prevalence of underweight 4% (24/605) among the population. All classes of obesity were significantly more prevalent in females. Significant positive correlates of BMI were: female sex (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (0.25, p < 0.001), DBP (0.27, p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (0.19, p < 0,001) and positive history of hypertension (0.23, P < 0.001). Negative correlates were physical activity and use of tobacco (0.2 (<0.001) and -0.16 (Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity is relatively high in two urban slums in Enugu and co-exists with a modest rate of underweight. Public health and community-based approaches should be used to tackle these two-opposing social/health problems.